Latest news with #healthstudies
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The remarkable truth about coffee and what it really does to your body: Top expert reveals how much you should drink per day... and why it's far less than you'd think
Whether it's a flat white, espresso or an energy drink, caffeine is firmly entrenched as the UK's favourite legal stimulant. We collectively sip an estimated 98million cups of coffee a day - and research is increasingly showing that apart from the taste, regular coffee drinkers also enjoy a range of health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and dementia.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Massive Review Finds No 'Safe' Level of Processed Meat Consumption
We know that processed meat isn't particularly good for us, having already been linked to dementia, diabetes, and cancer, but how much of it counts as a 'safe' level of consumption? According to new research, there's no such thing. US researchers reviewed over 70 previous studies (involving several million participants in total), analyzing the relationships between ultra-processed food and three health issues: type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and colorectal cancer. Associations for processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and trans fatty acids were looked into, and it was the processed meat that came out with the worst results – even if the amount eaten is only small. "The monotonic increases in health risk with increased consumption of processed meat suggest that there is not a 'safe' amount of processed meat consumption with respect to diabetes or colorectal cancer risk," the team from the University of Washington in Seattle writes in their published paper. Related: It's important to put the research into context. The associations found are relatively weak, they don't prove direct cause and effect, and the analyzed studies relied on self-reported dietary habits (which may not be completely accurate). However, the study has several strengths too – it uses a Burden of Proof method, which is more conservative when assessing impacts on health. The results tend to be minimum values, which means they likely underestimate the true health risk. What's particularly notable here is that minimal increases in consumption still raised risk levels. "Habitual consumption of even small amounts of processed meat, sugary drinks, and trans fatty acids is linked to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and colorectal cancer," University of Washington nutrition biologist Demewoz Haile told CNN. For example, the equivalent of one hot dog a day was associated with at least an 11 percent greater risk of type 2 diabetes, and at least a 7 percent greater risk of colorectal cancer, compared to eating no processed meat at all. For beverages, an extra can of sugar-sweetened pop a day was linked to a 8 greater risk of type 2 diabetes, and a 2 percent greater risk of ischemic heart disease, compared to not drinking anything sugary. For trans fatty acids, a small daily amount was associated with a 3 percent increase in risk of ischemic heart disease, compared with zero consumption. "This information provides critical data for public health specialists and policymakers responsible for dietary guidelines and potential initiatives that aim to reduce the consumption of these processed foods," write the researchers. While the study has limitations, its scale and conservative methodology make it worth taking note of. This is backed up by a commentary in the same journal, which does note the role of ultra-processed foods in improving food accessibility and shelf life, particularly in areas with limited access to fresh food. The message from the research team is that cutting out ultra-processed foods as much as possible is the best option for our health. The research has been published in Nature Medicine. Ozempic-Like Drugs Could Treat Chronic Migraines, Trial Finds Gut Bacteria Found to Soak Up Toxic Forever Chemicals Gene Therapy Can Restore Hearing in Adults, First-of-Its-Kind Trial Shows
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Harvard will destroy 1.5million samples that could hold the key to stopping colon cancer epidemic
Fifty years of Harvard research is set to be flushed down the toilet. Since 1976, the university has collected more than 1.5million samples of human feces, urine, toenails, saliva, hair and blood from people for scientific research, allowing them to track how bodies change over time. Researchers behind the project say it could reveal key mutations that lead to cancer or habits that could help someone live longer. Dr Walter Willet, a physician who has been with the project since 1977, said the collection could also be a treasure trove of information on the reasons for the colon cancer surge in young people. But now, all of these possibilities are set to be lost after three grants to support the project — worth $5million per year — were cut by the Trump administration. Dr Willet has managed to secure emergency funding from Harvard for the collection but says this could run out within weeks. If more funds aren't raised, he said, then it's likely that the collection will be packed into plastic biohazard bags and shipped off to an incinerator — along with the valuable information it contains. 'We can't let that happen,' Dr Willit told 'we are working hard to make sure the resources are not lost'. The database — called the Harvard biorepository — holds samples from more than 200,000 women and men who took part in Harvard-led studies. This includes participants in the Nurses Health Study, 121,000 women tracked since 1976, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, tracking 51,000 men since 1986. For both studies, participants were asked to fill in bi-annual surveys on their diet, exercise and health — allowing researchers to detect factors that may raise someone's risk of suffering from a disease like cancer. More than 10,000 participants have already died, but scientists are continuing to carry out the surveys on those who are alive — some over 95 years old — hoping to detect hidden clues to longevity. Since 1982, the researchers have also been collecting biological samples from the participants to add further data to their project. From the Nurses Health Study, the database currently holds 62,000 toenail clippings, 50,000 urine samples, 30,000 saliva samples, 20,000 hair samples and more than 16,000 samples of feces collected between 1982 and 2019. It also holds an estimated 1.5million blood samples from more than 30,000 participants, and tissue samples from 16 cancers that emerged in participants during the study. From the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, it includes blood samples from more than 18,000 participants and more than 1,700 samples of tissue from cancers including prostate cancer. The Nurses Health Study has already resulted in the publication of more than 400 cancer-related studies, nearly 300 projects and participation in 33 cancer consortia. Top studies include a 2007 paper that found higher levels of inflammation-linked proteins in the blood raised the risk of colon cancer, and a 2004 paper that found people with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood had a lower risk of colon cancer. There are also early studies into the gut microbiomes of participants based on analysis of stool samples collected from 2019. While it is still too soon for these to reveal reasons for the surge in colon cancer cases, they hold promise Other notable findings include a 2003 paper that found postmenopausal women with higher estrogen levels had a higher risk of breast cancer. And a 1995 analysis of toenail clippings that suggested people with lower levels of selenium in their diets — a nutrient found in nuts — may have a higher risk of lung cancer, although this was later disputed by other research. Data from the studies' questionnaires has also been used in recent years to suggest that suggests a diet high in red meat could raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. And studies that linked a higher consumption of trans fats — a type of fat that influences cholesterol and that is used in cookies, pies and other bakery products — to a higher risk of coronary heart disease. The work was instrumental in the 2018 FDA ban on hydrogenated oils — which are used to make trans fats — in the US. The samples are stored in up to 60 large cylindrical freezers that are five-foot tall by five-foot wide housed in two locations at Harvard. It is split across two locations to protect the collection in case of an incident like a fire. The toenails and hair are not frozen because they do not degrade easily, Dr Willit said, meaning they are comparatively easy to store. But the rest of the collection is kept in the freezers that constantly have liquid nitrogen pumped through them — which has a temperature of -320F (-196C) — to preserve the samples. Running the freezers alone costs about $300,000 a year, Dr Willit said. The team receives several dozen requests a year for access to the collection from scientists, he added. In response, samples are either shipped to the scientists or the team undertakes the research in their lab and sends the scientists the results. Researchers are also constantly adding to the collection, collecting cancer samples from patients when the disease emerges and new data via surveys. So far, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York has agreed to offer funding to preserve the cancer samples from the Nurses Health Study. It is not clear how long this funding will last. But Dr Willit says they are continuing to avidly seek backers for the samples in the rest of the collection. The database was supported by three federal grants from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. It comes amid a mammoth battle between the Trump administration and Harvard University, that has seen more than $3billion in grants cut from America's wealthiest institution. In the latest salvo, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's effort to keep Harvard from hosting foreign students — who make up approximately 27 percent of its student body. The administration has repeatedly accused the university of doing too little to fight anti-semitism on its campuses and to stem pro-Palestine protests that disrupted some classes in 2024 and 2025.
CNN
19-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Two years after train derailment, NIH to commission longer-term health studies of East Palestine residents
The National Institutes of Health said Thursday that it will fund longer-term health studies of the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, after a 2023 train derailment that sent more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air. The community has long asked the government to do more to help answer questions about the mental and physical effects of the disaster, which some people say they continue to struggle with more than two years later. The funding will be available through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In 2024, under the Biden administration, the institute funded six two-year rapid-response projects to study different aspects of exposures and health problems after the disaster. Those projects were worth more than $1 million in total. The new grants will award up to $10 million for one to three projects over the next five years. Vice President JD Vance, who was a senator from Ohio when the derailment occurred, pushed for the funding, the NIH said. 'NIH is working to ensure that the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities are listened to, cared for, and get the answers they deserve,' NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said in a news release. 'This multi-disciplinary research program will focus on public health tracking and surveillance of the community's health conditions to support health care decisions and preventive measures.' East Palestine resident Misti Allison, who ran for mayor after the disaster and campaigned for long-term health studies in the area, said she was pleasantly surprised by the announcement. She sits on the board of one of the current community health studies. 'This next level of funding will enable us to conduct comprehensive and high-impact studies that can truly make a difference in the area,' Allison said. She notes that the funding announcement mentions that the research will be co-developed with input from the community. 'This will really ensure that our concerns and needs are at the forefront,' she said. 'So that is really great.' More than two years after the disaster, there's been a surge in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, respiratory complaints and even some cancers, Allison said. Because cancers have many causes, however, it's difficult to tie those directly to chemical exposures from the derailment, she noted. Jessica Conard, whose son developed asthma a few months after breathing toxic fumes from the derailment, said the announcement brought 'a complicated mix of emotions.' 'We have had real symptoms now for 2½ years, and all we've received is gaslighting and dismissals from state, local and federal agencies,' Conard said. 'We still need an organized medical response, and this should have happened immediately after the disaster,' she said. 'This feels like a political afterthought. 'My hope is that this $10 million doesn't just fund another academic report that sits on the shelf without any actionable takeaways,' she said, 'We desperately need real medical support.' Allison said the community has advocated for an emergency declaration to activate special provisions for victims of environmental exposures that would enable residents to receive Medicare benefits to help pay for their ongoing health needs. 'These funds would be a lifeline for many families who are still grappling with health concerns and some economic hardship,' she said. Dr. Andrew Whelton, a civil and environmental engineer at Purdue University who helps communities assess the impacts of disasters, said the need for the funding is unfortunate. The government and community would have been better served if they'd made more money available up-front to prevent exposures to residents in the first place, he said, and inadequate indoor air testing allowed residents to be exposed to chemicals in their homes for months after the disaster. 'It's positive that there is funding to potentially help people investigate long-term health impact questions, but none of it would have been necessary if the right decisions were made and people in agencies didn't fail the public' in the first place, Whelton said. The NIH said it will accept applications for the East Palestine study grants until July 21.
CNN
19-06-2025
- Health
- CNN
Two years after train derailment, NIH to commission longer-term health studies of East Palestine residents
The National Institutes of Health said Thursday that it will fund longer-term health studies of the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, after a 2023 train derailment that sent more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air. The community has long asked the government to do more to help answer questions about the mental and physical effects of the disaster, which some people say they continue to struggle with more than two years later. The funding will be available through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. In 2024, under the Biden administration, the institute funded six two-year rapid-response projects to study different aspects of exposures and health problems after the disaster. Those projects were worth more than $1 million in total. The new grants will award up to $10 million for one to three projects over the next five years. Vice President JD Vance, who was a senator from Ohio when the derailment occurred, pushed for the funding, the NIH said. 'NIH is working to ensure that the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities are listened to, cared for, and get the answers they deserve,' NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said in a news release. 'This multi-disciplinary research program will focus on public health tracking and surveillance of the community's health conditions to support health care decisions and preventive measures.' East Palestine resident Misti Allison, who ran for mayor after the disaster and campaigned for long-term health studies in the area, said she was pleasantly surprised by the announcement. She sits on the board of one of the current community health studies. 'This next level of funding will enable us to conduct comprehensive and high-impact studies that can truly make a difference in the area,' Allison said. She notes that the funding announcement mentions that the research will be co-developed with input from the community. 'This will really ensure that our concerns and needs are at the forefront,' she said. 'So that is really great.' More than two years after the disaster, there's been a surge in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, respiratory complaints and even some cancers, Allison said. Because cancers have many causes, however, it's difficult to tie those directly to chemical exposures from the derailment, she noted. Jessica Conard, whose son developed asthma a few months after breathing toxic fumes from the derailment, said the announcement brought 'a complicated mix of emotions.' 'We have had real symptoms now for 2½ years, and all we've received is gaslighting and dismissals from state, local and federal agencies,' Conard said. 'We still need an organized medical response, and this should have happened immediately after the disaster,' she said. 'This feels like a political afterthought. 'My hope is that this $10 million doesn't just fund another academic report that sits on the shelf without any actionable takeaways,' she said, 'We desperately need real medical support.' Allison said the community has advocated for an emergency declaration to activate special provisions for victims of environmental exposures that would enable residents to receive Medicare benefits to help pay for their ongoing health needs. 'These funds would be a lifeline for many families who are still grappling with health concerns and some economic hardship,' she said. Dr. Andrew Whelton, a civil and environmental engineer at Purdue University who helps communities assess the impacts of disasters, said the need for the funding is unfortunate. The government and community would have been better served if they'd made more money available up-front to prevent exposures to residents in the first place, he said, and inadequate indoor air testing allowed residents to be exposed to chemicals in their homes for months after the disaster. 'It's positive that there is funding to potentially help people investigate long-term health impact questions, but none of it would have been necessary if the right decisions were made and people in agencies didn't fail the public' in the first place, Whelton said. The NIH said it will accept applications for the East Palestine study grants until July 21.
